<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000909654-06-000043
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20060104
<ITEMS>7.01
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20060104
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060104
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC
<CIK>0001108134
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6036
<IRS-NUMBER>043510455
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-51584
<FILM-NUMBER>06507389
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>24 NORTH ST.
<CITY>PITTSFIELD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01201
<PHONE>4134435601
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>24 NORTH ST
<CITY>PITTSFIELD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01201
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>berkshire8kjan4.txt
<TEXT>
<PAGE> 1


                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 4, 2006
                                                         ---------------


                          BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
                          -----------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

      Delaware                        0-51584                04-3510455
      --------                        -------                ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission             (IRS Employer
  incorporation)                    File Number)            Identification No.)

      24 North Street, Pittsfield, Massachusetts             01201
      ------------------------------------------             -----
      (Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (413) 443-5601
                                                           --------------

                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



<PAGE> 2



ITEM 7.01   REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.
            ------------------------

      On January 4, 2006, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), the
holding company for Berkshire Bank, announced it expected to issue its fourth
quarter earnings release on January 26, 2006. The Company will conduct a
conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on January 27, 2006 to discuss the
results for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. Instructions on how to access
the call are contained in the press release, a copy of which is attached as
Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
            ---------------------------------

      (a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired: Not applicable

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information: Not applicable

      (c)   Exhibits

            Number            Description
            ------            -----------

            99.1              Press Release Dated January 4, 2006




                                        2

<PAGE> 3


                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.


Dated: January 4, 2006                  By:/s/ Wayne F. Patenaude
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Wayne F. Patenaude
                                           Senior Vice President and
                                              Chief Financial Officer


                                        3

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>berkshireexb99jan4.txt
<TEXT>
                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


              BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC. TO ISSUE FOURTH QUARTER
                      EARNINGS RELEASE ON JANUARY 26, 2006;
           CONFERENCE CALL SET FOR JANUARY 27, 2006 AT 10:00 A.M. (ET)


PITTSFIELD, MA, January 4, 2006 - Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company")
(NASDAQ:BHLB), the holding company for Berkshire Bank (the "Bank"), today
announced that it will issue its earnings release for the quarter ending
December 31, 2005, at approximately 4:15 P.M. eastern time on Thursday, January
26, 2006.

The Company will conduct a post-earnings conference call at 10:00 A.M. eastern
time on Friday, January 27, 2006. President and Chief Executive Officer Michael
P. Daly and Chief Financial Officer Wayne F. Patenaude will discuss highlights
of the Company's fourth quarter financial results. Information about the
conference call follows:

         Dial-in:                   1-877-407-8035
         Replay Dial-in:            1-877-660-6853
         Replay Access Codes:       Account #286; Conference ID #184282
                                    (Both are needed to access the Replay)
         Replay Dates:              January 27, 2006 at 1:00 P.M. (ET) through
                                    February 2, 2006 at 11:59 P.M. (ET)

All interested parties are welcome to access the conference call and are
requested to call in a few minutes prior to 10:00 A.M. (ET) to register for the
event. The presentation by Messrs. Daly and Patenaude will last approximately 15
minutes, followed by another 15 minutes scheduled for questions and answers.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Berkshire Bank.
Established in 1846, Berkshire Bank is one of Massachusetts' oldest and largest
independent banks, and is the largest banking institution based in western
Massachusetts. The Bank is headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with
branch offices serving communities throughout Western Massachusetts and
Northeastern New York. The Bank is committed to continuing to operate as an
independent super community bank, delivering exceptional customer service and a
broad array of competitively priced retail and commercial products to its
customers.

                                       ###


MEDIA AND INVESTOR CONTACT:

WAYNE F. PATENAUDE
413-236-3195
WPATENAUDE@BERKSHIREBANK.COM


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
